Freshwater biodiversity in a rapidly changing Arctic: An expert horizon scan of key research questions

Joseph M Culp^{1

2}, Michael Power³, Kirsten S Christoffersen⁴, Willem Goedkoop⁵, Kimmo K Kahilainen⁶, Milla Rautio⁷, Fernando Chaguaceda^{5

8}, Marie-Pier Hébert^{7

9

10}, Sanne M Moedt^{4

11}, Dermot Antoniades¹², Simon Belle⁵, Daniel Bolnick¹³, Frederic Bouchard¹⁴, John E Brittain¹⁵, Pär Byström¹⁶, Louise Chavarie¹⁷, Raoul-Marie Couture¹⁸, Alison M Derry¹⁹, Antti P Eloranta^{20

21}, André Frainer²², Catherine Girard²³, Guillaume Grosbois²⁴, Dag O Hessen²⁵, Ian Hogg^{26

27}, Anne D Jungblut²⁸, Hanna-Kaisa Lakka²⁰, Jen Lam²⁹, Danny C P Lau⁵, Camille A Leblanc³⁰, Jennifer Lento³¹, Sally MacIntyre³², Phil Marsh³³, Mackenzie A C Martyniuk³⁴, Alexander Milner³⁵, Jordan Musetta-Lambert³⁶, Tero Mustonen^{37

38}, Danielle Nowosad³⁹, Jasmine E Saros⁴⁰, Ann Kristin Schartau⁴¹, John P Smol⁴², Janne Soininen⁴³, Martin-A Svenning⁴⁴, Ken D Tape⁴⁵, Frederick J Wrona⁴⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology and Cold Regions Research Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. jculp@wlu.ca.
² Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. jculp@wlu.ca.
³ Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
⁴ Freshwater Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 3rd Floor, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
⁶ Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, 16900, Lammi, Finland.
⁷ Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l'Université, Saguenay, Chicoutimi, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada.
⁸ IMDEA Water Institute, Avenida Punto Com, 2, Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805, Madrid, Spain.
⁹ Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
¹⁰ Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
¹¹ Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, København K, Denmark.
¹² Department of Geography, Centre d'études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Pavillon Abitibi-Price 2405, rue de la Terrasse, Local 1230, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
¹³ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269-3043, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Applied Geomatics, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada.
¹⁵ Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Sars' gate 1, 0562, Oslo, Norway.
¹⁶ Umeå and Climate Impact Research Centre (CIRC), Umeå University, Vetenskapens väg 38, 981 07, Abisko, Sweden.
¹⁷ Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
¹⁸ Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Local 1220, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
¹⁹ Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montreal, 141, rue de Président-Kennedy, Montreal, H2X 1Y4, Canada.
²⁰ Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
²¹ Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Käsivarrentie 14622, 99490 Kilpisjärvi, Finland.
²² Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
²³ Sciences et génie - Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-Informatique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, 2325, rue de l'Université, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
²⁴ Groupe de Recherche en Écologie de la MRC-Abitibi, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi Témiscamingue (UQAT), 341, rue Principale Nord, Amos, QC, J9T 2L8, Canada.
²⁵ Department of Biosciences, University Oslo, Postboks 1066 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
²⁶ School of Science, University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
²⁷ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada.
²⁸ Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, UK SW7 5BD, UK.
²⁹ Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, 76 Mackenzie Road, P.O. Box 2120, Inuvik, X0E 0T0, Canada.
³⁰ Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Háeyri 1, 550 Sauðarkrókur, Hólar, Iceland.
³¹ Department of Biology, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, 10 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada.
³² Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.
³³ Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada.
³⁴ Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, P.O. Box 179, Kuujjuaq, QC, J0M 1C0, Canada.
³⁵ School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
³⁶ National Hydrology Research Centre, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada.
³⁷ Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 2, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
³⁸ Snowchange Cooperative, 81235 Lehtoi, Finland.
³⁹ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
⁴⁰ Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, 137 Sawyer Research Center, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
⁴¹ Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo Sognsveien 68, 0855, Oslo, Norway.
⁴² Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
⁴³ Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
⁴⁴ Arctic Ecology Department, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), P.O. Box 6606, 9296, Langnes, Tromsø, Norway.
⁴⁵ Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, 2156 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA.
⁴⁶ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.

PMID: 41741924
DOI: 10.1007/s13280-025-02331-5

Review

Freshwater biodiversity in a rapidly changing Arctic: An expert horizon scan of key research questions

Joseph M Culp et al. Ambio. 2026.

. 2026 Feb 25.

doi: 10.1007/s13280-025-02331-5. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology and Cold Regions Research Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. jculp@wlu.ca.
² Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada. jculp@wlu.ca.
³ Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
⁴ Freshwater Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, 3rd Floor, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
⁶ Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, 16900, Lammi, Finland.
⁷ Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l'Université, Saguenay, Chicoutimi, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada.
⁸ IMDEA Water Institute, Avenida Punto Com, 2, Parque Científico Tecnológico de la Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805, Madrid, Spain.
⁹ Département des sciences de l'environnement, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
¹⁰ Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
¹¹ Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, København K, Denmark.
¹² Department of Geography, Centre d'études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Pavillon Abitibi-Price 2405, rue de la Terrasse, Local 1230, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
¹³ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269-3043, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Applied Geomatics, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500, boulevard de l'Université, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada.
¹⁵ Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Sars' gate 1, 0562, Oslo, Norway.
¹⁶ Umeå and Climate Impact Research Centre (CIRC), Umeå University, Vetenskapens väg 38, 981 07, Abisko, Sweden.
¹⁷ Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
¹⁸ Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Local 1220, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
¹⁹ Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montreal, 141, rue de Président-Kennedy, Montreal, H2X 1Y4, Canada.
²⁰ Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
²¹ Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Käsivarrentie 14622, 99490 Kilpisjärvi, Finland.
²² Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
²³ Sciences et génie - Département de Biochimie, Microbiologie et Bio-Informatique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, 2325, rue de l'Université, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
²⁴ Groupe de Recherche en Écologie de la MRC-Abitibi, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi Témiscamingue (UQAT), 341, rue Principale Nord, Amos, QC, J9T 2L8, Canada.
²⁵ Department of Biosciences, University Oslo, Postboks 1066 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
²⁶ School of Science, University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
²⁷ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada.
²⁸ Department of Science, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, UK SW7 5BD, UK.
²⁹ Inuvialuit Joint Secretariat, 76 Mackenzie Road, P.O. Box 2120, Inuvik, X0E 0T0, Canada.
³⁰ Department of Aquaculture and Fish Biology, Hólar University, Háeyri 1, 550 Sauðarkrókur, Hólar, Iceland.
³¹ Department of Biology, Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, 10 Bailey Drive, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada.
³² Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA.
³³ Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada.
³⁴ Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, P.O. Box 179, Kuujjuaq, QC, J0M 1C0, Canada.
³⁵ School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
³⁶ National Hydrology Research Centre, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5, Canada.
³⁷ Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 2, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland.
³⁸ Snowchange Cooperative, 81235 Lehtoi, Finland.
³⁹ Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
⁴⁰ Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, 137 Sawyer Research Center, Orono, ME, 04469, USA.
⁴¹ Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo Sognsveien 68, 0855, Oslo, Norway.
⁴² Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory (PEARL), Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada.
⁴³ Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
⁴⁴ Arctic Ecology Department, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), P.O. Box 6606, 9296, Langnes, Tromsø, Norway.
⁴⁵ Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, 2156 Koyukuk Dr, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA.
⁴⁶ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.

PMID: 41741924
DOI: 10.1007/s13280-025-02331-5

Abstract

Arctic freshwater biodiversity is rapidly changing due to climate warming, resource extraction, infrastructure development, and landscape transformation. To improve understanding, predict future responses, and inform policy formulation, research needs must be clearly identified. Using a horizon scan survey, Arctic freshwater experts from government, international agencies, and Indigenous Peoples identified 77 biodiversity research questions with 17 highlighted as most important for near term assessment. These questions span nine thematic categories: biodiversity and taxonomic challenges, hydrological change, productivity and food webs, ecosystem connectivity, methods, monitoring and assessment, permafrost change, winter ecology, anthropogenic development, and Indigenous Knowledge. Climate change emerged as the major driver among all categories and research questions. A key priority identified was the urgent need for long-term, harmonized monitoring programs among Arctic countries. Multiple knowledge gaps detected suggest that circumpolar research collaborations are required to tackle these issues.

Keywords: Circumpolar research collaboration; Climate warming; Impacts of human development; Long-term monitoring; Subsistence fisheries.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Freshwater biodiversity in a rapidly changing Arctic: An expert horizon scan of key research questions

Affiliations

Freshwater biodiversity in a rapidly changing Arctic: An expert horizon scan of key research questions

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources